18 October 2023

Park volunteers and award wins…

By Ally Pally

We are delighted that our amazing Park has picked up not one, but three Gold awards at the 2023 London in Bloom Awards. They came in the Large Conservation Area; Large Park and Heritage Park/Garden categories.

The judges reserved particularly praise for “…the involvement of the Gardening Volunteers, especially the project to replace the roses in the rose garden, and the Friends of the Park (managing the ant-hill meadow).”

We caught up with regular volunteer Jeannie Bushell to find out more!

Before you read on, if you would like to volunteer at the Park and Palace, contact our team via volunteering@alexandrapalace.com

How did the volunteer gardening group start? In the Summer of 2021, we were emerging from lockdown and the idea of creating an opportunity for the volunteers to meet, socialise and to play a positive part in improving Ally Pally’s more ‘gardeny’ areas seemed like a brilliant idea! In collaboration with the Palace’s Park and Sustainability team and the Creative Learning team I started the monthly group, and it has become an important part of the volunteering programme.

Why were you interested in setting up this group? Because I love the park! I’m local and I was immersed at the time in a range of RHS horticulture and Garden Design courses at Capel Manor College, so it was an ideal way for me to put that into practice. I’d been a volunteer since 2016 running tours, volunteering in the Theatre and helping the Palace’s Fundraising team – and it was through this that it became really clear from donors’ comments that the Park is of vital importance to them, which added even more meaning to getting involved in nurturing it. We are so lucky to have this fantastic green space on our doorstep!

What projects do you/the group do? We’ve sown wildflower seeds in the bed next to the Golf Course – we’re so chuffed it has put on beautiful vibrant displays these past two years. We renovated the jaded Rose bed in the Rose Garden from scratch – digging it over, allowing green manure to work its magic then planting the fantastic, fragrant ‘Ingrid Bergman’ red roses that match the other beds and deadheading the roses since, to encourage more blooms. We’ve planted a fantastic range of evergreen shrubs near the lake and the Pavilion Car Park. We’ll weed, mulch and prune, as needed either independently or occasionally we enjoy supporting the John O’Conner Parks team. Next, we have exciting plans to jazz up the South Slope beds.

What have been your favourite projects to support? More recently, we planted up the bespoke wooden raised planters in the Theatre Courtyard and I participated in selecting the plant choices. A range of shrubs and ornamental plants really improve the space and have made it into a welcoming place to sit, relax and chat or just to look out onto from the foyer. Next time you visit the Theatre, go and check it out!

(Jeannie, right, planting in the Theatre courtyard)

What is the most beneficial thing about volunteering? I enjoy gardening alongside the lovely fellow volunteers who pitch up in all weathers – our monthly, three hour sessions fly by as we ‘toil in the soil’ – but it’s not a chore, it’s a lovely way to spend time outside and to be fair, there’s quite a lot of chatting and laughter! Some volunteers are keen, experienced gardeners, others have never so much as lifted a trowel – it really doesn’t matter. All comers are welcome!

What is your favourite thing about Alexandra Park? It’s such a wonderful green space open to everyone, and with a fab, historic building that’s had so many significant milestone moments perched alongside it on the hill. And with such a brilliant view over London! It’s pretty unique and special.

Could you tell us a little about you!? I worked in Publishing and Business development for many years before re-training in Horticulture and I now do private gardening maintenance, renovation and new planting. I recently got an allotment too. I guess work and hobbies really overlap!

What have been your favourite activities/events at the Park and Palace recently? I love Ally Pally Theatre and have enjoyed its transformation from dereliction to a thriving, characterful venue that hosts an eclectic mix of fabulous shows. I particularly loved Tom, Dick and Harry – a unique piece of theatre and staging that really made the most of the adaptable space.

Here’s a few of your reflections on the Park in 2023…

A lovely wander around Ally Pally this morning. Love having this on my doorstep espesh in Autumn ❤️ pic.twitter.com/igvnnUkuvJ

— Nick Of The North (@PeripateNic) October 17, 2023